Write a Saintly Novel!

Mack's going the old-fashioned route for National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. Various members of fandom have participated in this event, and I could see Daria trying it, as well. If nothing else, it's good for overcoming procrastination. As long as she doesn't run into another awful writer's block, of course.

Today is also All Saints' Day, which probably means the "bunch of saint's days" that Cupid can't keep track of all have to share this one. With that kind of treatment, I wouldn't blame them if they blew off Holiday Island to start a band of their own.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria (and other characters) on the Defiant Round Robin, by EntrancedCat (part 45): "Daria was tired, wasn't she? She had never felt like this before. Of course, who had ever experienced anything like appearing suddenly on a spaceship, no, she corrected herself, a starship that she had thought was a fictional TV setting?"


• Lucy in the Sky with Daria, by Blake C Stacey (BlakeStacey) (COMPLETE!): "A borrowed space in late summer, between the arboretum soil and the branches of a weeping linden. Two young women. 'Jane, when did we meet? For the first time?'"


• Mr. and Mrs. Lane (Story idea for adoption: Vincent and Amanda CIA operatives), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "It was the first time in five years that Vincent and Amanda Lane had made love. Amanda rose from the tiny bed in her husband's sparse apartment, and wrapped a heavy quilt around herself before she sat in a chair next to the dirt-spackled window."


• A Resentful Cynic ch. 7 Another day, another pain, by ST91 (COMPLETE!): "The next morning did not begin well for Daria. Her face ached, and in general she felt lousy. Things got worse when she came down to breakfast because the screams of surprise/terror that the members of her family uttered perforated her eardrums."


• Sonoma Coma, by jtranser (part 24): "Daria took another swig of her Ambrosia Mojito and finished her lecture...."


• Stargate Delicately Balanced Daria Chapter Two, by Meester_Lee (parts 1 and 2): "Helen Morgendorffer awoke with a start, looked at the clock by her side of the bed, and ran into the bathroom to get ready to start her day at the office. She was in the shower when she remembered that it was Sunday morning and her eldest daughter had been returned to her safe and sound." (Part 2)


• Thanksgiving, by dmsfanman (part 1): "'No Mother, I am not coming home this weekend,' Tom said over his mobile phone."


• To Be Real, by elainefr (COMPLETE!): "Daria felt the loss of her friend much heavier than she had anticipated and found that she could no longer focus on the words before her; the tears that had threatened in the corners, now spilled over blurring the words as they hit the page."


• Unnamed story (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by Wraith (COMPLETE!): "David Sorenson put the business card in his pocket, and then asked Daria, 'What would you do if you were asked to explain "right"?'"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef : MMORPG, Lawndale style), by Waylander (part 19): "They met purely by accident. When Darlene was ready to give up leave the circus after the fruitless search, the old Lizardman stuck his head out of the central pavilion."

It Does Take Courage to Write a Novel

It's the beginning of National Novel Writing Month, so warm up your pen, pencil, or computer keyboard and start working on that masterpiece! It looks like Daria has hit a few snags, but don't let that stop you.

If you need some inspiration, you could read The Red Badge of Courage, written by Stephen Crane, who was born on this day in 1871. Contrary to Mr. O'Neill's teachings, however, I doubt you'll find it has much in common with the Wizard of Oz.

Fanfic Update!

• Black Cloaks of Lawndale, by Waylander (part 25): "Doctor Margaret Manson was sifting through Morgendorffer files, looking for the small details that can serve as a clue to understanding the young Necromancer."


• Casa Lane, by ST91 (COMPLETE!): "'Again?' Trent said one night while returning from Zon at the sight of a row of cars parked in front of his house."


• Christmas Morning (IC: Amy with husband and children), by Zetor (COMPLETE!): "Amy nibbled on a cookie and took a sip of milk as she watched her husband struggle to carry in the pile of Christmas gifts for their children. 'Greg, are you sure you don't need any help?' she whispered, careful not to wake their boys."


• Chuck (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Princess_Pasta (COMPLETE!): "A thick covering of gray clouds had blanketed the evening sky, bringing with it chilling winds and rain. The entire week had been gloomy and dark, the awful weather affecting nearly everyone's mood."


• Lawndale & Sandi Griffin's Genie: Future Excerpt 2, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 3): "At Lawndale High, Sandi, Chris, Sam, Sabrina, Nicki and Jennifer had finished their search of the Math area, when they saw another person enter. 'Hi, can I help you search for the Emerald?'"


• Lawndale 2021, by Anguirus1955 (parts 18 and 19): "Daria Morgendorffer was sitting down at her communications console at her station on the bridge. She looked over at Sparks. 'Hey, Sparks?' Daria asked. 'Yeah?' 'You ever wonder why we're here?' Daria asked him." (Part 19)


• Lawndale Z, by Kuriamo22 (part 5): "Jane yawned as both her and Daria sat on her bed at her house watching TV. It was the weekend, and they had fallen into the routine of not training on weekends."


• Let's Dance, by 11tee (part ): "Elsinore Sloane hung up her gown and then zipped up the garment bag. She enjoyed the dancing, but her date to the Fielding Formal turned out to be a bigger prick than she first assumed."


• Metal Rowe (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by EntrancedCat (COMPLETE!): "'Oh, my God! The goal post fell! Tommy Sherman's dead! He's dead!' Stacy's head jerked up as that cry interrupted Sandi Griffin's criticism of the skort Stacy had chosen that day."


• Not Alone (IC: Amy with husband and children), by ST91 (COMPLETE!): "The twins Alexander and Jessica Esposito-Barksdale realized something was wrong when they came home. They saw Amy Barksdale, their mother, talking frantically on the phone."


• Peacekeeper, by Zetor (part 1): "Lawndale is your average American suburb, just far enough from the city for it to be a pain to go there for anything but a special night out. Never mind which city, that's complicated."


• Perception, by Princess_Pasta (part 1): "Even through the tears in her eyes, Brittany Taylor kept her eyes focused on her long-time boyfriend, Kevin Thompson. It would be hard leaving him behind even if their relationship was rocky at best."


• Sisters of the Soybean (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Anguirus1955 (COMPLETE!): "Quinn walked over to Daria's room and looked at her sister as she slept. She looked at the clock on the stand next to her. Sighing, Quinn took a few steps forward and leaned over her sister's bed to look at Daria's sleeping form."


• Unnamed story (World's Shortest Crossover, Part XIV: The Crossover Awakens!), by Wraith (COMPLETE!): "The elevator opened, and the nurse started to pull Mrs. Sullivan's gurney into the hall. 'Someone was crying. From the children's ward.' Mrs. Sullivan said."


• The Unveiling, by Anonymous (COMPLETE!): "The park was very quiet and very empty when Jane and Daria finished pulling the drop cloth off of Jane's installation. The result of four months of constant work, it towered fearsomely over their heads."

I Just Hope Your Anguish Doesn't Start Acting Up

The many talented writers in fandom may be interested to know that yesterday was the beginning of National Novel Writing Month! This is the ideal time to write that book about a slightly older, sensitive man and the love a budding woman child feels for him when she gets to know him better. Or you could, you know, be normal and non-pervy. Totally your call.

Also, today's public service announcement: remember to set your clocks back one hour if you live in an area that observes daylight saving time. If you don't live in an area that observes daylight saving time, you can still set your clock back if you want to...but you'll probably end up late to work.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria as the Doctor, by ashk09 (part 4): "'Do we, uh, actually have a plan?' asked Jane between breaths, scanning the terrain quickly to make sure there was nothing to trip her up. If any of this stuff were to leak out, the consequences would be unpleasant."


• Deadgirl Wonderland, by SacredDust (parts 1 and 2): "At first she could barely see it through the haze, but something was rising up outside the window. Its face was obscured by a red mask, its body covered in...was that armor?" (Part 2)


• Dylan, by J-D (part 32b): "'Hey, Dad, I found a job for Dylan!' 'You did? That's great, Kris! But weren't you looking for a job for yourself?'"


• Eighties Night (LongSnakeMoan's Fluff Thread), by LongSnakeMoan (COMPLETE!): "As he was lost to the world he noticed a huge Pina Colada pushed in front of him, festooned with a blue umbrella floating on the top. He looked up and he felt himself smile. Here she was."


• For Jane (1,001 Deaths of Tom Sloane - Part II), by SacredDust (COMPLETE!): "What a great day this had been! He'd broken up with his girlfriend after kissing her best friend, and apparently got off scot-free. Jane actually seemed angrier with Daria than she was with him. He didn't really get it, but...JACKPOT!"


• The Great And The Good, by ognawk (part 25): "Hearing a knock at the front door, Jane switched the TV off and got up to answer it. She opened the door and what shocked to see Cassidy standing there with her head bowed."


• Happy Halloween (IC: Hell is Crossed People), by GlitterShrooms (COMPLETE!): "Hi! My name's Quinn Anne Morgendorffer and I'm fourteen and a half years old. Today is a very special day for me. It's Halloween!"


• If I Can't Have You... (1,001 Deaths of Tom Sloane - Part II), by ognawk (COMPLETE!): "'Jane,' Tom said, interrupting Jane and causing her to look straight at him, 'Just go. I'll take care of this and I'll see you later.'"


• It Just Might Tear You Apart (It is October, after all), by SinisterExaggerator (COMPLETE!): "Ah, hello, my friend. I think a proper salutation might be in order. My name is Ted, and you are going to die."


• Quinn's Code 09: Morgendorffers in the Woods, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 1): "'Remember what the doctor said the last time you burst a blood vessel?' 'Yeah, he said it would be two hundred dollars.' Helen took Jake's hand in hers to reassure him. 'Before that. He said that we need to cut down your stress and we're going camping like we used to before...' she looked and saw that her daughters were still in the room."


• Star Trek: Dyson Sphere: Multiplicity, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 1): "The team backed off from the gateway, but then something happened. With a scream, a person arrived through the gateway. 'This cannot be!' T'Elanna said, as she looked at the other person. 'And yet it is,' Weralla said."


• Tall Candles (LongSnakeMoan's Fluff Thread), by LongSnakeMoan (COMPLETE!): "'Eeeewww. It smells funny in here. Is that smell your caaaaandles?'"


• Together Again, by ashk09 (COMPLETE!): "For some reason, the silence unsettled her; such peace was normally a positive boon, as it gave her time to read or write, but now, the quiet felt like an alive thing, pressing in all around her. Then, the whisper. Do you dream about me? Do you dream you're with me? Be honest."


• Unnamed story (1,001 Deaths of Tom Sloane - Part II), by ognawk (COMPLETE!): "Jane tilted her head to the side slightly and grinned. Tom noticed a glint in her eye he'd never seen before."


• Unnamed story (1,001 Deaths of Tom Sloane - Part II), by Serrallonga (COMPLETE!): "TOM - Mr. Morgendorffer! I can explain! (Jake takes a gun and shoots six times) BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"


• Unnamed story (1,001 Deaths of Tom Sloane - Part II), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "'Tom!' Kay yelled at her idiot son, 'Stop teasing the alligators. And where did you get that chicken roast?"


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fan-Fic Should Have: Do What Now?), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "(Surface of the Sun begins to play over the MTV logo and a close-up of Daria's eyes opening) ANGELA LI (V/O): What's the last thing you remember?"


• When Love Takes Another Path (IC: Early Meeting), by ST91 (part 1a): "'I've been waiting for you,' said Helen Sloane (nee Barksdale ). 'I know you. I know that when you come home late the first thing you do is put your briefcase away and then you come to bed.'"

Speaking of novel things...

...it's National Novel Writing Month!

It's that time of literary abandon when fanfic authors throw caution to the wind and sit down to peck out that 1,000-page DeMartino/O'Neill shipper everyone's dying to see. Are you going to write a Daria novel, novelette, or novella this month? If you did, what would your novel be about? Let's hear some answers.

"Does this skull makeup make me look fat?"

Sometimes you just don't know why the Daria artists created the alter egos they did. Here's Tiffany in costume for the Day of the Dead, which is big in Mexico today and tomorrow. This kid must be quite a party animal (not!) at Holiday Island High.

Today is also World Vegan Day, celebrating and honoring our interstellar friends from Vega, and also Samhain and also All Saints. Go for it.

And today marks the start of National Novel Writing Month. Those of you who are illiterably inclined may start writing at once. And make sure it's a Daria novel this time.

And now some updates from the last couple days. In the field of visual treats and tricks, we have: Morgan V Morgendorffer, by Psychotol; Trick or Treat! by Breitasparrow; and a collection of pictures from Wouter showing his versions of certain scenes taken directly from Daria episodes. All are worthy of admiration. "Trick or Treat!" does win the Cuteness Cubed award, however.

PPMB

• Blood, Sweat, and Cheers, by Kristen Bealer (COMPLETE!): Everything go boom, big time. Massive feedback going on to story as well.
• Daylight: When the Ball Dropped, by Disco316 (Part 12): The survivors make plans to survive an unappealing future.
• A Trick or Treat II, by Legendeld (COMPLETE!): Already mentioned. This dude is a writing machine!